Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan. Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Let it cool slightly. Grind the hazelnuts in a food processor until they are fine, but not pasty.

In a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until they are foamy. Add the sugar, and beat until the whites form stiff peaks, about 2 minutes. In a clean bowl, with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and chocolate-hazelnut spread until light, about 2 minutes. Add the yolks, salt and brandy, and mix until smooth. Add the melted chocolate and ground hazelnuts, and mix until smooth. Remove the bowl from the mixer.

Stir about a quarter of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it, and then gently fold in the remaining egg whites. Don’t overmix. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake until a tester comes out clean, about 45-50 minutes. Let the cake cool for about 10 minutes, then open the spring and remove the side ring. Let the cake cool thoroughly before serving. Slide a broad metal spatula, or two, under the cake to separate it from the metal pan bottom, then lift and set the cake on a serving plate.

About the Author

Craving Boston's Catherine grew up in a family that cooked, gardened, canned and tapped trees to make maple syrup, so you could say New England cuisine is in her blood.

After graduating from the University of New Hampshire in 2007, she moved to the Boston area to pursue a culinary certificate and MLA in gastronomy at Boston University. While working toward her degree Catherine fell in love with the Boston food scene, started a personal chef business, The Pocket Garden, and became a regular contributor to The Boston Globe food section.

When Catherine isn’t cooking for personal chef clients or freelancing for various food publications, she enjoys yoga, travel, gardening, and spending time with her friends and family. Catherine and her husband Artie are proud Somervillians, living in Union Square with their black lab Scout, and two cats, Lily and Oliver.